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Saturday 18 November 2006

AM is Australia's most informative morning current affairs. It covers the stories each morning that the other current affairs teams follow for the rest of the day. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

Australian deployment to Tonga

Troops and police from Australia and New Zealand are setting out today for the Pacific island of Tonga to help restore security after the riots that killed at least six people. The deployment was announced at the Asia Pacific Summit by Australia's Prime Minister John Howard and New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark. Mr Howard says the riots caused massive damage in Tonga's capital, and Helen Clark fears the spectre of fragile or failing states in the South Pacific.

Burqa ban up for debate in the Netherlands

The veil worn by Islamic women is a contentious issue in many western nations and now the Dutch Government wants to ban the full face veil and burqa in all public places. The minister who is backing the move says the garments are disruptive to public order and can be disturbing to non-Muslims.

Make Poverty History concert rivals G20 summit

Rock star and anti-poverty campaigner, Bono has thrown his star status behind calls for Australia to increase its foreign aid. The Irish rock stars' visit to Australia coincides with the G20 summit currently underway in Melbourne. Protestors at the G20 summit yesterday disrupted a number of businesses in Melbourne's CBD. But last night thousands of young people attended a free Make Poverty History concert, which had some surprise guest stars.

IMF chief criticises bilateral trade talks

Reform of the International Monetary Fund will be on the agenda at the G20 meeting today, but the Managing Director of the IMF, Rodrigo de Rato has his own message for the group of 20 wealthiest countries, including Australia: stop signing bilateral trade talks and work towards a new world trade agreement. The IMF Chief says the spate of bilateral deals is threatening the Doha round of world trade talks, and could create new opportunities for protectionism.

Howard and Bush discuss Hicks' trial

The Prime Minister John Howard, says he'll continue to press the United States to bring Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks, to trial as soon as possible. Mr Howard, raised the matter over lunch with the US President, George W. Bush, in Vietnam yesterday. And the Prime Minister told the media he's unhappy that the process has taken so long.

US Senate challenge could further delay Hicks' trial

The future of David Hicks has been thrown into further doubt with Democrat Senators in the US moving to overhaul the new legislation responsible for the establishment of military commissions at Guantanamo Bay. The Democrats, who'll take control of the US Congress in January say the current laws deny detainees their proper legal rights. If the Democrats' new legislation is introduced, David Hicks could be waiting even longer for his trial to begin.

West Australia's bittersweet economic boom

In Western Australia, the average weekly wage in the west is now higher than in New South Wales, the traditional leader, and house prices in Perth are set to pip Sydney as the most expensive. However, welfare agencies say demand on their services is higher than ever before. People who are employed, but over-committed financially, are among those seeking help, and being turned away.

UN peacekeepers finally allowed into Darfur

For years now the international community has been wringing its hands about what it can do to stop the bloodshed in the Darfur region of Sudan.This week there was a breakthrough. The Sudanese Government has agreed, in principle, to allow United Nations peacekeepers into Darfur. The plan would allow a limited UN force to join African Union peacekeepers to help stabilise the area and allow humanitarian work to be undertaken safely.